Fees row threatens Sky coverage of India series

Broadcaster at odds with Indian cricket board over costs ahead of next month's England tour

SKY television’s full coverage of the England tour of India is under threat
because of a late demand from the Indian cricket board for fees thought to
total upwards of £500,000 for the broadcaster’s commentary team – including
former Test captains Sir Ian Botham, Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton –
to operate within the stadiums.

Sky are thought to be reluctant to pay an unscheduled cost and if they stand
firm may have to either take local commentary, featuring former India stars
such as Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri, or get their own team to commentate
from a studio outside India.

Either way they could be denied their usual pitch-side discussions and player
interviews at the venues. There is no issue about Sky’s access to a live
feed of pictures from the Tests, starting on November 15, for which they
hold the UK rights.